The NewsRoom
Release: #3864
Date: September 12, 2008
Hurricane Gustav/Hurricane Ike Activity
Statistics Update :
September 12, 2008
Minerals Management Service
monitors activities for both storms through its Continuity of
Operations Plan.
NEW ORLEANS — Offshore oil and gas
operators in the Gulf of Mexico have evacuated platforms and rigs
and have shut-in oil and natural gas production in preparation for
Hurricane Ike; most of this preparation had been already completed
in advance of Hurricane Gustav. The Minerals Management Service is
monitoring activities for both hurricanes through its Continuity of
Operations Plan team (COOP) team. Once the threat of the hurricane
has passed, MMS will begin
overflights
to survey damage and confirm preliminary reports
from oil and gas operators. The MMS COOP team will be activated
until operations return to normal.
Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30
a.m. CDT today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 596
production platforms, equivalent to 83.1 % of the 717 manned
platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Production platforms are the
structures located offshore from which oil and natural gas are
produced. These structures remain in the same location throughout a
project’s duration unlike drilling rigs which typically move from
location to location.
Personnel from 101 rigs have also been evacuated; this is equivalent
to 83.5 % of the 121 rigs currently operating in the Gulf. Rigs can
include several types of self-contained offshore drilling facilities
including jackups, submersibles and semisubmersibles.
From the operators’ reports, it is estimated that approximately 97.5
% of the oil production in the Gulf has been shut-in. Estimated
current oil production from the Gulf of Mexico is 1.3 million
barrels of oil per day. It is also estimated that approximately 94.4
% of the natural gas production in the Gulf has been shut-in.
Estimated current natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico is
7.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day.
As part of the evacuation process, personnel activate the shut-in
procedure, which can also be accomplished from a remote location.
This involves closing the safety valves located below the surface of
the ocean to prevent the release of oil or gas. During Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the shut-in valves functioned 100 percent of the
time, efficiently closing in production from wells and resulting in
no major spills from the Outer Continental Shelf. Shutting-in oil
and gas production is a standard procedure conducted by industry for
safety and environmental reasons.
The production percentages are calculated using information
submitted by offshore operators in daily reports. Shut-in production
information included in these reports is based on what the operator
expected to produce that day. The shut-in production figures
therefore are estimates, which the MMS compares to historical
production reports to ensure the estimates follow a logical pattern.
After the hurricane has passed, facilities will be inspected. Once
all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged
facilities will be brought back on line immediately. Facilities
sustaining damage may take longer to bring back on line. The MMS
will continue to update the evacuation and shut-in statistics at
1:00 p.m. CDT each day until these statistics are no longer
significant.
Districts |
Lake
Jackson |
Lake
Charles |
Lafayette |
Houma |
New
Orleans |
Total |
Platforms
Evacuated |
88 |
119 |
129 |
129 |
131 |
596 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
11 |
17 |
19 |
30 |
24 |
101 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
69,692 |
35,595 |
158,746 |
418,824 |
584,330 |
1,267,187 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
1,170 |
713 |
958 |
936 |
3,208 |
6,985 |
This survey information is
reflective of 83 companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m. CST.
Contact:
Eileen Angelico
504-736-2595
Caryl Fagot
504-736-2590
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
10/27/2008,
07:48 AM
Central Time
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